8 Easy energy saving hacks to slash your energy bill
1st Mar 2023 Managing your Money
With energy bills set to rise again in April, property expert David Philips shares cheap and easy tips that will make noticeable savings on your energy costs
Many of us are still watching our smart meters more than our televisions as the energy crisis continues. In this article, we’re going to be sharing some tips for busting your energy bills without breaking the bank.
Optimise your freezer
Our freezers are an essential household item but they do, of course, use a fair amount of juice.
To minimise the energy used by your freezer, defrost it regularly and keep it full where possible, as a full freezer uses considerably less energy than a half empty one.
Use efficient room lighting
Invest in some lamps for a low-cost way to light your home
Unless you’re planning to spend your evenings by candlelight, you will of course need to turn the lights on, but you can still save a few quid in this department.
"A build up of dirt and dust can filter the light and have us reaching for the switch"
Switch to low energy LED lights and light bulbs to help to keep costs down long term. Also, strange as it may sound, get into the habit of dusting your lightbulbs—a build up of dirt and dust can filter the light and have us reaching for the switch to turn on additional lights.
Lamps are a good investment as these will tend to use less electricity than having the "big light" on for the entire evening.
Be intentional about screen time
In the UK, the average person has access to nine connected devices, including televisions, laptops, tablets and mobile phones, all of which are powered by electricity.
While we’re not suggesting that you sacrifice your weekly fix of Eastenders, limiting screen time for the whole family can help to shave a few quid off your bills. If you’re feeling brave, you might even consider introducing a "switched off evening" once a week where tech is forbidden.
Not only will this save energy but it will also provide a regular mini tech detox for the whole family.
Plug up draughts to reduce heating costs
Use tape and cling film to reinforce single glazed windows
In many cases, a significant amount of heat is lost through our doors and windows, meaning that we may be tempted to turn up the thermostat.
Check all windows and doors for draughts and invest in some inexpensive insulation tape to help keep heat where it belongs—in your home.
"Placing cling film over the glass provides a barrier to heat loss and is considerably cheaper than double glazing"
If you have single glazed windows, these can be a major culprit when it comes to heat loss. Although it may look a little odd, placing cling film over the glass provides a barrier to heat loss and is considerably cheaper than having double glazing fitted in your home.
Take advantage of sunlight
While the winter nights may be chilly, there will often be an amount of sunlight during the day, which can be harnessed to help keep bills down.
When drying clothes on an airer or clothes horse, place this near a window that receives a lot of light during the day. This will help dry your clothes more quickly and allow you to turn off the heated airer sooner.
Speed up the tumble dryer
If you absolutely, positively have to use the tumble dryer, using dryer balls will make your clothes dry more quickly and therefore cut down on drying time and energy use.
Add warming textiles to cold rooms
Use soft textiles like rugs to warm rooms with hard wooden or tiled floors
Bare floors, particularly tile and linoleum, can make a room feel much colder during the winter months, leading to a need to turn the heating up.
Investing in some cheap cheerful rugs is a great way of keeping rooms warmer—and, as a bonus, will also give your room a bit of a refresh.
Place the thermostat away from doors and windows
A lot of people tend to keep their thermostats close to a door for easy access. While this may be convenient, it can also be misleading, as the reading may be affected by draughts and heat loss when the door is opened and closed.
Instead, keep your thermostat in the middle of the room in order to get a more accurate reading.
Powering down for energy savings
With no end in sight for the cost of living crisis, few people can afford to invest in major energy-saving projects such as wall and loft insulation. However, by making a few lifestyle changes, it is possible to save cash.
"Getting into some new and good habits can save as much as £300 on your energy bills every year"
Getting into some new and good habits can save as much as £300 on your energy bills every year and will usually cost you next to nothing.
Read more: How to cope with a higher cost of living
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